The Five Core Demands One Year Later

Greetings to all of our supporters who stand with us in solidarity for our collective struggle to force an end to indefinite SHU/AdSeg policies and practices!

More than a year has passed since our July 1st, 2011 peaceful protest hunger strike action, calling for an end to decades of abusive confinement; and we’re still waiting for CDCR to meet our give core demands (all of which CDCR’s top administrators admitted were reasonable!) Thus, at this stage of our struggle, we believe your outside support efforts should focus on pushing CDCR to grant one, or two, of the most important—main issues—relevant to our core demands!

At this point, these are the non-negotiable demands that CDCR must grant, as follows:

1. CDCR must abolish “Intelligence” based SHU/AdSeg Confinement!

For more than 25 years, CDCR’s policy has been to place/retain thousands of prisoners classified as gang members/associates in SHU/AdSeg indefinitely, based on so-called “intelligence” indicating alleged gang activity. Now it’s important to note that CDCR’s definition of “intelligence” as applied to and used for “sanctionable gang activity” purposes by CDCR is in reference to innocent associational activity, political type activity and or unsubstantiated allegations of involvement in gang activity by confidential prisoner informants. Most of these prisoners have never been found guilty of committing a gang related or criminal act, but spend decades in SHU/Adseg subject to the torturous conditions therein, with no end in sight!

Equally important to note, is the fact that CDCR’s new proposed gang management policy changes—claim to be behavioral based [i.e. sanctions will be imposed upon those found guilty of ‘criminal gang behavior’; implying one has committed, been changed for and found guilty of a criminal act!] However, the truth is that CDCR will continue to rely on “intelligence” based information to keep alleged ‘members’ in SHU/AdSeg indefinitely without any requirement for CDCR to formally change them with a rule violation!!! (See: March Proposal). This equates to zero change from the present “inactive gang status’ policy, that’s proven to be a sham for 13 years! Such policy/practice regarding “status” [gang label and intelligence] based, indefinite SHU/AdSeg confinement for decades, amounts to torture! The international community already condemns it and we collectively condemn this practice in California.

We hereby demand an end to this illegal practice immediately!

2. A Four Year Step Down Process Is too Long!

Any step down program, should be no longer than 18 months—maximum, and the incentives need to be meaningful (e.g. contact visits, etc) as soon as possible!

These are solid points to focus on, and leave CDCR with no wiggle room—these are non-negotiable, mandatory reforms. While the rest of our core demands [including our supplemental demands] are open for negotiations—after the above referred two demands are met!!

In Solidarity & with respect,

Todd Ashker

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4 thoughts on “The Five Core Demands One Year Later”

This is all absolutely ridiculous. You are wasting time and money of people who actually obey the laws. I work at pbsp and let me tell you it IS NOT as bad as they make it out to be. Try being me. I had to walk up and down nearly 8000 stairs to make sure these inmates were ok because they are refusing to eat. Oh but wait they are not starving yet because they still have canteen. Lets see what happens when they take all the food away. Your demands are insane. YOU broke the law and chose be a shot caller in prison instead of just doing your time so you need to pay for your own actions. You are in prison not the Hilton. And you do get great healthcare better than I do! You get seen within 24 hrs of putting in a sick call. Lets tell the real truth here! I have to wait days or weeks to see a doctor or dentist! Come on now.

june bug come on, you say they broke the law everyone broken the law but most do not get caught, and as much as you may deny it you have broken the law also.

I find it hard to believe that Mr. Ashker was a shot caller back in 1986 when he was in his early 20’s.

I would like to see you try the SHU, you wouldn’t last a week. And as for the 8000 stairs you bitch about walking up and down I am sure it good exercise for your fat ass, you don’t like your job find another one. Oh but wait, you can’t because only the incompetent work for the CDCr and no one else would hire you.

I sure your a wonderful medical assistant for the inmates…heartless $!*@#.

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